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Speedrunners

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Developed by Double Dutch and published by Tiny Build Games, Speedrunners is a four-player, fast-paced, 2D action game that integrates concepts from the platforming and racing genres. The goal is simply to outrun your competitors until they are unable to stay within the moving camera, while also avoiding the deadly borders. The objective is easier said than done, as not only are there numerous obstacles, but there are also plenty of power ups designed for hectic, competitive gameplay that can mean the difference between first and last place. The game was released on Steam on August 26th, 2013 and finally exited Early Access on April 19th, 2016.

Celebrity Endorsement: In-Universe with Speedrunner promoting a fictitious beverage called "Boosta Coke" on a billboard in some maps. The Youtuber characters existing in the game with their own title cards reading "Let's Play Some Speed Runners" could qualify as an out-of-universe example.

Chummy Commies: Cosmonaut Comrade fills this role to an extent, although he's just another competitor in the Speed Runners competition.

Death Throws: Happens whenever a runner hits a laser or a spike with lethal obstacles turned on. They're back in the race by the very next round.

Destructive Savior: Applies to just about everyone in the Speedrunners competition, as the "Jumping The Shark" and "Rise of the Falcon" comics reveal that while these so-called "Heroes" do good deeds, they tend to cause more destruction at crime scenes than good.

Difficult, but Awesome: Many levels include a split between a safe route and a hard route. The hard route requires tricky use of momentum to reach, but either contains boosters and item boxes or a significant shortcut, nearly guaranteeing the elimination of other players. On the other hand, the safe route includes a lever that will close the shortcuts in the hard route, making it worth taking if you think you can reach it before the other players reach the shortcut.

Easter Egg: Secret characters can be selected by typing special commands in the in-game chat:

Excuse Plot: The Origins story deals with the titular hero Speedrunner stopping a bomb plot set by Mad Scientist Stalnik. The current story mode mainly consists of different runners challenging Speedrunner at his own game.

Expressive Mask: Any of the masked runners in general. Taken to the extreme with Hothead whose mask may or may not be their real face.

Expy: Speedrunner himself looks like a combination of Batman and The Flash.

The Faceless: Nobody knows (or probably ever will know) what Cosmonaut Comrade looks like behind his glass dome helmet. Same applies to Fort Knight with their box helmet.

Great Detective: Gil is revealed to be this in the "Jumping the Shark Comic", who has taken it upon himself (with encouragement from The Falcon) to go undercover and participate in the Speedrunners competition in secret to put a stop to Speedrunner and his competitors.

Two Youtuber DLC packs have been released with characters such as Linkara and Markiplier to promote the game, with each pack belonging to a different team. The sales featuring the winning team will be donated to cancer research.

Harmless Freezing: The Freeze-Ray will temporarily slowdown/stop opponents in a solid block of ice, but will not kill anyone directly.

Homing Projectile: The Missile Powerup which also has Boomerang Comeback. It can be avoided either by dropping crates in the middle of its path, exploiting the terrain and even running past other players to use them as shields.

Invincibility Power-Up: The Invincidrill, which allows players to temporarily breeze through obstacles and plow through opponents.

It's Personal: As revealed in the Rise of the Falcon Trailer, the runner known as the Falcon was a chicken farmer who swore vengeance on Speedrunner when said runner refused to help him put out a house fire.

Mad Bomber: Stalnik, the main antagonist of the Origins story mode. There's no explained reason why he's trying to blow up New Rush City.

Malevolent Architecture: Maps such as Industry, Powerplant and even the Library have spikes and other hazards. May be justified since they're retrofitted for the Speedrunners Competition.

Make Me Wanna Shout: The Shockwave powerup, which creates a spherical Area of Effect sonic boom that can destroy missiles, slow down opponents and reflect fireballs.

Nominal Hero: Speedrunner in a strange sense, as he seems to care more about being able to run quickly than any actual heroic work. The in-game comics show that his running damages crime scenes, getting in the way of law enforcement, and the bombs he can use are causing panic among civilians, casting further doubt on his title of hero.

Ridiculously Cute Critter: Manekae Neko gives off this impression, although he may be a Killer Cat considering that he/she competes just as aggressively as the rest of the competitors.

The Rival: The Falcon to Speed Runner big time. Not only was he ignored by the Speedrunner in his time of need, he's appalled by how he uses bombs to overtake opponents in his obsession with speed. He ultimately challenges Speedrunner to a race where the loser is exiled from New Rush City in the last level of the story mode.

Rocket Jump: The Bomb item can be detonated immediately after being placed, providing you with a small speed boost.

Stylistic Suck: As part of an April Fool's Day update, players can change the settings on the graphics to render the game in a poor-man's NES, EGA or Gameboy style reminiscent of Pacman Fever.

Swiss Army Gun: Moonraker's raygun has been shown to function as a grappling hook and a freeze ray throughout the game, comics, and trailers.

You Will Not Evade Me: Subverted, while the Golden Grappling Hook powerup can be used to pull yourself ahead of any opponent in front of you while stopping them in their tracks, it can be dodged by ducking or exploiting the terrain.

Token Girl: Moonraker, who seems to pride herself on this proclaiming, "There's only one chick in this race!" Later averted, as several female characters have since been added, making her title card a bit of an artifact.

Toon Physics: In a sense of gameplay physics. Angled surfaces and timed grapples create a HUGE variety of playing the game, while also creating numbers of ways to go faster than anyone. Every proffesional player uses them to their own advantage.

Unsound Effect: Happens whenever players use powerups on each other or accomplish something like "SUPER SPEED!"

Violation of Common Sense: Players can actually use the bomb powerup to propel themselves for an extra boost. They can also fire missiles at ceilings right in front of them to slow down other players, or even propel themselves forward.

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